Absolutely helps my 98 year old mother. Some nights she is wide awake, wants her purse, keys and shoes late at night. I give her Melatonin 5mg via her neurologist, brand is Natrol 100% drug free, strawberry natural flavor. I buy it at Costco's. She falls asleep within 30-45 minutes for the rest of the night. Used to be on Ativan when needed, but this works better and is safer in my opinion.
Give Melatonin a chance. I take it every evening and I also give it to my spouse along with his other meds. Tylenol PM worked for him for years but then when it no longer worked we switched to Melatonin. It doesn't work like some sleep aids. Read all the information.
I've been taking two per night for a couple of years now. I really don't see any difference. While filling my pill caddies today i ran out. Don't think I'll buy any more. It's not expensive. Could be worth the try for your father. What about an Aleve or Tylenol? Good luck.
It certainly can't help to give it a try. Some people on Forum say their elders are helped by it. On radio recently I heard an MD say that it is very good for those who are experiencing jet lag because it tricks the mind to thinking it is nighttime when really it would be daytime for the person who has moved by air to another part of the world, but that it is of little benefit to the sleepless unless they actually suffer from a melatonin deficiency. Again, why not give it a try.
My Mom takes Trazadone at bedtime for sleep. It doesnt work. In the past 3 weeks, I have slept an avg of 3hrs a night. She won't sleep. She does exercise during the day. She walks constantly, Never sits down From dusk to bedtime. Than, she is up and down every 45 min or so. Im so sick of the sound of the alarm in her room.
Maybe I'll try Melatonin. Has anyone tried CBD for sleep issues ?
None of the anti- anxiety, or prescription sleep medicines worked, in fact one of them made him violent (he hit me for the first time in 40 years). I have found 10 mg of Melotonin along with 500mg Magnesium will help him get to sleep and sleep for 6 hours. Also, Sleepy Time Tea might help.
It is worth a try. Also try to get your loved one into the sunshine during the day for at least 30 minutes. Try to keep him from napping during the daytime as well.
It has never worked for me. My mother's Memory Care kept the residents up and busy during the day so they would sleep at night. Does your dad do a lot of napping? Elderly folk often get their biorhythms messed up.
My VA psychiatrist put me on Melatonin a couple months ago (2 tablets, 3 mg each) due to months/years of insomnia/disturbed sleep. So far I haven't noticed any difference. The other day, he okayed upping it to 9 mg total. I am also on 4 different BP meds, but BP is still high. I know that and the insomnia are both due to the fact that I've had a PTSD relapse/flare-up for 3-4 years now since the whole caregiving toxic parents thing and had to go off my 3 PTSD meds 2 years ago due to NAFLD. I can't even take a Tylenol. I'm lucky if I get 3-4 hours of sleep per night. I know that is a factor of why my BP won't come down and the rest is all the stress, anger and resentment that I can't seem to overcome. At least my liver enzyme numbers are much better than they were a year ago. Since my cardiologist is making me go back on a statin drug, I might as well ask my Psychiatrist if I can go back on Zoloft. I really miss it sometimes. It seems I have to make a choice: I can either die of a stroke/heart attack or of liver failure because the meds for one are not good for the other and vice versa. In the meantime, I am trying the Melatonin since that is the safer option. Oh well. It is what it is.
Might want to look up the side effects of melatonin. I am much younger than your dad and I took it for well over a year not realizing it was causing bad side effects! Thought I had narcolepsy but it was the melatonin. Every night I would start falling asleep and then wake up hallucinating. Usually these hallucinations involved the need to get out of my bedroom as the walls caved in or the room broke free from the house and was swept away in to the ocean! One time I needed to get out of the room before the door sealed shut permanently. Another time the corona virus was coming down from the ceiling over the bed! Like I said very strange hallucinations. Turns out it was the melatonin. I haven’t taken it in over 6 months and no longer suffer from sleep disturbances. I also feel more energy during the day.
I used to take ten mg's of melatonin every night, for several years. I don't remember why I stopped taking it, but more recently I decided to try it again since it seemed to work so well for me in the past. I started having terrible nightmares that were so vivid, and felt like they lasted for hours. I would wake up and the fear/shock/sadness or whatever emotions provoked by the nightmares seemed to stay with me for several hours...I just couldn't seem to shake those emotions for the biggest part of the day. It's odd how things affect us differently than others, and also how we can suddenly not be able to tolerate something that worked great in the past. I also felt sluggish during the day...like I just couldn't fully ever wake up if that makes sense.
Chooch, I always recommend taking magnesium and zinc about 30 minutes before bed. It helps our bodies naturally produce melatonin and you don't have any sleepiness the next day. (Melatonin makes me groggy for days)
It is also really important for our over all health, everyone in the family would benefit from this daily.
Start with 200mg magnesium and 30 mg of zinc. You can increase the magnesium but, stay under 50mg of zinc. This is my opinion only, I have had great results, as well as friends and family that have started this daily regiment.
I hope you find something that helps, lack of sleep is crushing.
11 years ago, I had a horrible fall in which my left hand and arm were shattered. I had to have surgery in which a plate with screws was put in the hand and arm to keep everything together, and my doctor put me on a mild dosage of melatonin to help me sleep well. It works great for me; I'm on a 3 MG dosage; I sleep well but at times I do have to get up during the night to use the bathroom. I'll go back to sleep in no time. Melatonin is not habit forming, it is a natural hormone that your body makes. I even took it when I had a hysterectomy in 2006
Tylenol PM just has Tylenol and Benadryl in it. Which is diphenhydramine hydrochloride.
I have an older friend who is so embarrassed b/c she will sometimes take 12.5 mgs of Benadryl to help her sleep. I keep telling her that is a baby dose and probably more than anything, it's the thought that she's going to get 'knocked out' is what makes her sleep.
Whatever works for you. Good Sleep is critical in so many things. Our bodies really need to rest. I sleep terribly and wake up a LOT and many mornings feel like I never went to bed.
I was told by two of my dads dr's not to give him Benedryl because older people cannot process it and it acts as up to 3x's the amount you are given and causes you to a greater risk of fails. Anyone may want to check with their dr before taking benedryl.
My GI doc suggested Tylenol PM when it appeared that melatonin was causing side effects. It has turned out to be quite effective. It Helps in staying asleep and I have more flexibility in the morning, less stiffness. Only concern is if person has liver problems.
There are many sleep aids on the market. Melatonin never worked for me. I never tried any of the natural products. Don't try any of the OTC sleep aides, their active ingrediant is dyphenhydramine which studies have shown has a negative effect on people with dementia. Trazadone is a prescription drug that many PCPs prescribe for insomnia.
I use it myself, and my LO has been prescribed it in her AL.
It can be purchased in time release form, and that’s actually the type I take, because I can fall asleep at a reasonable time but be up, wide awake, 3-4 hours later. Might work better for him too.
Be sure to ask his doctor which type would serve him better.
To clarify, one does not need a prescription for Melatonin since it is considered a nutritional supplement and not proven medication vetted by the FDA. But I understand that the NH may need to have a formal "prescription" from a physician for them to get it and dispense it since there is no real dosage recommendation.
Again, why not give it a try.
Maybe I'll try Melatonin. Has anyone tried CBD for sleep issues ?
At least my liver enzyme numbers are much better than they were a year ago. Since my cardiologist is making me go back on a statin drug, I might as well ask my Psychiatrist if I can go back on Zoloft. I really miss it sometimes.
It seems I have to make a choice: I can either die of a stroke/heart attack or of liver failure because the meds for one are not good for the other and vice versa.
In the meantime, I am trying the Melatonin since that is the safer option. Oh well. It is what it is.
My blood pressure meds were increased too.
The last combination of meds that my doctor prescribed seem to have it under control.
Take care.
It is also really important for our over all health, everyone in the family would benefit from this daily.
Start with 200mg magnesium and 30 mg of zinc. You can increase the magnesium but, stay under 50mg of zinc. This is my opinion only, I have had great results, as well as friends and family that have started this daily regiment.
I hope you find something that helps, lack of sleep is crushing.
Maybe you need a doctor who can see the whole picture here.
I have an older friend who is so embarrassed b/c she will sometimes take 12.5 mgs of Benadryl to help her sleep. I keep telling her that is a baby dose and probably more than anything, it's the thought that she's going to get 'knocked out' is what makes her sleep.
Whatever works for you. Good Sleep is critical in so many things. Our bodies really need to rest. I sleep terribly and wake up a LOT and many mornings feel like I never went to bed.
Helps in staying asleep and I have more flexibility in the morning, less stiffness. Only concern is if person has liver problems.
It can be purchased in time release form, and that’s actually the type I take, because I can fall asleep at a reasonable time but be up, wide awake, 3-4 hours later. Might work better for him too.
Be sure to ask his doctor which type would serve him better.
Tough on Dad and tough n you and your family too.